If you’re like me, your experience with Bible reading plans has had mixed results. Here’s an untraditional approach to regular reading that has worked well for my wife and me, and it might work well for you too.
It’s pretty simple: I stay in one book of the Bible for a month. During that month, I can spend time doing anything related to that book of the Bible. On a given day, this might be (1) reading a few chapters from that book, (2) meditating on a few verses, (3) reading a commentary or other resource, (4) listening to a podcast sermon, or a combination of them. At the start of the next month, I decide what book to read next, or perhaps stay in the same book longer.
Sometimes adjustments are needed for the length of books, like tackling a few books in a month (like 2 John, Jude, and Obadiah) or taking longer than a month (like Psalms). Also, I alternate between the Old Testament and the New Testament, and between the different genres (like poetry, gospels, prophets, epistles) so that I am shaped by the entire counsel of Scripture. Here are some advantages of approaching my Bible reading this way.
1. It gets me to use valuable resources
While a traditional plan restricts me to the task of “getting through” the reading, a one-book-a-month approach allows me to slow down and investigate something I find interesting or confusing. Perhaps my Bible text has a footnote to a cross-reference or a term that I’m unfamiliar with. Staying in the same book gives me the freedom to look things up and experience the richness of God’s word. For example, a Bible atlas shows me why a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:30), or why Jesus had to go through Samaria (John 4:4). Consulting a Bible dictionary helps me to visualize why someone’s lover is like henna blossoms from En Gedi (Song of Songs 1:14). Trusted podcast preachers point to less-often-quoted portions of the Bible and help me consider how to apply them.
2. It’s easy to follow with someone else
My wife is a night owl and I wake up early. So we do our reading at different times. Staying in the same book of the Bible allows us to read on our own, but also chat throughout the day about our observations, especially big-picture ones. For example, we’ve talked about the repetition of water imagery in John, and the lessons for leadership in Micah. Together, we’ve been encouraged and challenged by God’s word in new ways.
3. It keeps me joyful in God’s word
I don’t know about you, but when I follow a traditional reading plan, I fall behind. Having a strict calendar inevitably makes me miss some days, and it is discouraging. Eventually, that discouragement makes me see reading as a chore, a task to check off each day. With the one-book-a-month approach, I might miss a day, but I find myself looking forward to getting back into the Scriptures the next day.
4. It allows me to spend extended time in certain places
Instead of moving on to the next reading, I sometimes follow the Spirit’s leading to stay in the same text for an extended time. Re-reading these or looking at relevant literature helps me meditate longer on God’s word and consider how to apply it. For example, I’ve recently been challenged by Jesus’ call to deny myself to follow him (Mark 8:34) but encouraged by the promise of greater rewards in this life if I do (Mark 10:29-30). I marvel as I mull over Paul’s turnaround from a zealous persecutor of the church to zealous pursuer of Christ’s suffering and resurrection (Philippians 3:4-11).
5. It keeps the biblical text regularly saturating my life
The one-book-a-month approach keeps me in the Bible, even if it’s less time in a given day than I’d like. With traditional reading plans, I was often reluctant to read if I didn’t have time to complete each day’s reading task. My wife and I have been reading through Isaiah this month, and on some days I’ve had more time than on others. It looks like I won’t finish reading every word of Isaiah’s 66 chapters this month, and that’s okay. With this approach, the frequent focus on small portions or using resources allows for us to spend time (even if it’s a few minutes) in the text each day, allowing God’s word to impact us constantly.
Whatever your approach to reading the Bible, I hope you are in the text regularly. As we read, may we be encouraged by God’s character and the gospel. As the Spirit does the work of changing us, let’s respond with obedience, worship, and wonder.